What Is Augmentation and Diminution

Augmentation is simply the lengthening or rhythmic values, and diminution is the shortening of rhythmic values.

What is rhythmic augmentation and diminution?

Diminution and augmentation Diminution is when a musical idea is repeated with the note values halved – so the notes are shorter. Augmentation is when a musical idea is repeated but with the note values doubled, which doubles the length of the idea.

How do you use diminution?

Diminution in composition This technique is often used in contrapuntal music, as in the “canon by diminution” (“per diminutionem”), in which the notes in the following voice or voices are shorter than those in the leading voice, usually half the length.